Tag Archives: jobs

Apprenticeship Spotlight: Hard work pays off for three machine operator graduates

Students who obtained their machine operator apprenticeship credential stand with their mentors.

Pictured left to right: Owner of High Desert Milk Karla Robinson, High Desert Milk instructor Tory Bailey, Luis Arevalo, Guillermo Martinez, Juvencio Trejo, plant manager Shawn Burton and Bob Snyder.

For student Guillermo Martinez, the Registered Apprenticeship program paved the path to his career.

“The program gave me a head start in life and helped get me ready to work 12 hour shifts. I have learned so much from the plant (High Desert Milk), and I feel I have a better chance of getting hired at other plants,” Martinez said.

The Idaho Department of Labor connects Idahoans to Registered Apprenticeship opportunities in the Gem State to expand and diversify the workforce. And the machine operator apprenticeship is graduating skilled workers in south central Idaho.

The Magic Valley area is host for multiple U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) Registered Apprenticeship sponsorships. Various sponsors include the College of Southern Idaho, McCain Foods and High Desert Milk. They each have programs designed to train employees in operation maintenance for manufacturing, packaging, dehydration and use of other machines within a facility.

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Impacted by foreign trade? Trade Act Assistance helps laid off employees find work

Employee layoffs are not uncommon when a U.S. company offshores some of its production or is sold to an international firm that does similar work in a foreign country.Photo: shipping containers on barge

That’s when employers and employees can seek out career transition support for their laid-off employees through the Trade Act Assistance program (TAA). TAA is a federal program administered by the U.S Department of Labor that provides services and benefits to workers who lose their jobs due foreign trade.

Various industries – such as manufacturing – might typically be affected by a foreign trade issue due to the ebb and flow of product supply. If layoffs occur as a result, businesses should know these layoffs don’t need to be devastating for their employees.

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Idaho’s short-term employment growth is expected to continue through 2024

New short-term employment projections from the Idaho Department of Labor show Idaho’s healthy rate of job creation is expected to continue over the next two years. Total employment in Idaho — including self-employed and family businesses — reached a new high of 854,474 in the base period in 2022. This is projected to grow by 1.4% annually, reaching 878,100 in 2024.

The robustness and consistency of Idaho’s labor market has been a shining light in past years, with the state consistently leading the country in job growth. In 2020, COVID-19 led to significant job losses in a very short period of time — with almost all job losses occurring in March and April, but Idaho demonstrated its economic vitality with a quick rebound, returning to rapid job growth the following year. In fact, job growth in Idaho has been so strong that, even with the setback in 2020 during the pandemic, total employment in 2022 still reached and even exceeded forecasts.

Figure 1: Total employment in Idaho 2016-2022, with Idaho Labor 2024 projection

line chart - job growth projectionSource: Idaho Department of Labor

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Idaho’s construction industry on the rise

Idaho’s construction industry practically doubled employment over the past 10 years from 2011-2021, growing by 94% or 28,525 more workers. This is the largest percentage growth among Idaho industry sectors.

The construction industry stalled nationally and in Idaho during the Great Recession of December 2007 to June 2009. A slow construction recovery finally kicked in after jobs bottomed out in 2011 and 2012, with just under 30,000 in statewide employment.

Employment

Construction has always been a volatile industry with seasonal swings based on weather and business cycles affected by financing, consumer confidence and the national economy. Idaho’s construction employment history in Chart 1 cites longer expansionary periods than downturns over the past 20 years. The Great Recession recovery coincides with competitive hiring among most industries contributing to a well-documented labor shortage.

Chart showing growth of Idaho private construction jobs 2001-2021 Continue reading →

April 27 employer online seminar focuses on employee retention

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: April 21, 2022
Media contact: Clinton.Renn@labor.idaho.gov

Southeastern Idaho employers are invited to a free Zoom seminar Wednesday, April 27, 9 to 10 a.m., to discuss employee retention.

Representatives from local businesses Spudnik, A & E Engineering and East Idaho Credit Union, will share best practices on how they retain talent, followed by a Q & A with participants.

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Idaho Apprenticeship Program Allows Quality Electric to Train Women for Highly Skilled, Good-Paying Jobs

Karelyn Kruger, 45, is in her second year of a five-year training program as an electrical apprentice for Quality Electric in Boise. She’s creating a second career after working in retail and raising two children.

photo: hand holding electrical cables“I’m older than the average student,” she says with a wry grin. “I’m too old to go into debt and go back to college, so it seemed like a great opportunity to learn a trade, and they’d pay for my education while providing on-the-job training.”

Kruger had to pass an aptitude test, math test and have a GED or high school education to get into the Southwest Idaho Electrical Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee (JATC) program. Once you pass those tests, “you’re guaranteed a job” while you work under the supervision of an experienced journeyman electrician, she  says.

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Idaho Labor Seeks Youth in Need of Employment, Career, Education Support

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Nov. 22, 2021
Media Contact: Georgia Smith, georgia.smith@labor.idaho.gov

Out-of-school youth between ages 16 and 24 now have numerous opportunities to learn new skills and increase their earnings through apprenticeships, on-the-job and vocational training and much more thanks to a federal program managed by the Idaho Department of Labor.

“Qualified individuals have so many options with this program,” said Keith Whiting, career planner.

We can open doors to new skills, job opportunities and better pay!Hundreds of young people are already benefitting from the program, with more than 1,000 served during the past two years. The state of Idaho receives annual funding – around $2.8 million in 2021 – in Idaho Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds to offer these services.

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Multi-Employer Hiring Event Set for Nov. 4 in Meridian

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Oct. 29, 2021
Media Contact: Joe Goitiandia, joe.goitiandia@labor.idaho.gov

Nearly 30 Idaho employers, including H&R Block, Amazon, Boise State University and many more, will be at a multi-employer hiring event Thursday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Ten Mile Christian Church, 3500 W. Franklin Road in Meridian. 

Open positions include customer service representatives, retail sales associates, hospitality workers, direct support professionals, health care workers, warehouse packers and associates, and route drivers. Some positions include the opportunity to work remotely. Continue reading →

Idaho’s July Unemployment Rate Unchanged at 3%

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 20, 2021
Media Contact: Craig Shaul, Craig.Shaul@labor.idaho.gov or Karen Jarboe Singletary at Karen.JarboeSingletary@labor.idaho.gov

Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate held steady at 3% from June to July.

Total employment grew to 876,204, up 0.1% (+1,094), while total unemployment dropped 1.6% (-429) to 26,717.

Idaho’s labor force grew by one-tenth of a percent to 902,921 (+665), marking four consecutive months of gains. The labor force participation rate decreased from 62.6% to 62.5%.

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Boise Multi-Employer Hiring Event Set for Aug. 24

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Aug. 17, 2021
Media Contact: Joe Goitiandia, joe.goitiandia@labor.idaho.gov

Job seekers are encouraged to attend a multi-employer hiring event Tuesday, Aug. 24, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Boise Holiday Inn, 2970 W. Elder St.

Employers have openings in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, customer service, retail sales, hospitality and healthcare for such jobs as direct support professionals, route drivers, and packaging and warehouse workers.

Among employers participating are Holiday Inn, Scentsy, Sorrento Lactalis, DIRECTV, Amazon, O’Reilly Auto Parts, Truckstop.com, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Durham Bus, Guerdon and many more.

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